WhatsApp Introduces New Feature for Easy Transfer of Chat History Between Devices
WhatsApp, the widely-used messaging app owned by Meta, has introduced a new feature that will allow users to transfer chat history between devices running the same operating system.
The new feature works by scanning a QR code displayed on the user’s old device with their new device. The data, which includes chat histories and large attachments, is then transferred directly from one device to another without the need for cloud backups. During this process, the data is only shared between the two devices and is fully encrypted.
Until now, transferring chat history between devices required the use of cloud backups on iCloud or Google Drive. This old method could be time-consuming and presented issues for users with extensive chat histories, particularly those larger than the 5GB of free storage included with every iCloud account. The new feature avoids any cloud storage limits and is expected to be quicker and easier than the previous method.
For users to utilize this feature, both devices must be turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. To initiate the transfer, users need to navigate to ‘Settings > Chats > Chat transfer’ on the old device, where they will find the QR code to be scanned by the new device. Once the QR code is scanned, the transfer process is completed.
This new method of transferring chat data is considered more secure than third-party solutions since the data remains encrypted and is only shared between the two devices over the local network.
It’s important to note that the feature only works for transfers between devices running the same operating system, that is, either Android to Android or iOS to iOS. Transferring a chat history between different operating systems will require a slightly different process, for which users are advised to consult WhatsApp’s Help Center.
WhatsApp has been slowly rolling out this new feature to beta testers on both Android and iOS platforms. While the exact release date has not been announced, the recent official announcement from Meta suggests that widespread availability isn’t too far away.
This move is in line with WhatsApp’s efforts to make the platform more user-friendly. WhatsApp has also updated its multi-device feature to support multiple phones, allowing users to sync messages sent and received with a single phone number on various devices.
As users eagerly anticipate this new feature, they should keep an eye out for updates to the WhatsApp app. There has been no word yet on whether a similar feature will be introduced to the desktop version of WhatsApp.
